US3039680A - Cash registers - Google Patents

Description

June 1962 F. WENDEL ET AL 3, 0

CASH REGISTERS, ACCOUNTING, AND SIMILAR MACHINES Filed April 2, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR FRANZ WENDEL JOHANNES RINDSFUSSER EIR ATTORNEYS June 19, 1962 F. WENDEL ET AL 3,039,680

CASH REGISTERS, ACCOUNTING, AND SIMILAR MACHINES Filed April 2, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

INVENTOR FRANZ WENDEL JOHANNES RINDSFUSSER THEI ATTORNEYS June 2 F. WENDEL ET AL 3,039,680

AND SIMILAR MACHINES CASH REGISTERS, ACCOUNTING,

Filed April 2, 1958 3 Sheets-She et 5 INVENTOR FRANZ WENDEL JOHANNES RINDSFUSSER EIR ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofilice 3,039,680 Patented June 19, 1962 land Filed Apr. 2, 1958, Ser. No. 725,857 3 Claims. (Cl. 235-7) This invention relates to a cash register or similar accounting machine adapted to handle multiple item transactions and having an item totalizer, and is particularly concerned with arrangements for the control of the item totalizer.

Machines are known in which differentially settable members are mounted for rotation about a common shaft so as to be capable of actuating the wheels of an item totalizer carried in a shiftable framework and adapted selectively to be engaged with, and disengaged from, the differentially settable members.

Such machines, however, require the provision of rela tively complicated mechanism to control the timing of engagement and disengagement of the Wheels of the item totalizer with the differentially settable members, impose a considerable load on the machine operating mechanism due to the weight of the parts to be shifted, and are expensive to manufacture.

It is, therefore, the main object of the present invention to provide a machine in which the item totalizer is secured in fixed relationship to the differentially settable members, thereby eliminating the necessity for providing complicated item totalizer engagement control mechanism, reducing the load on the machine operating mechanism, and rendering the machine relatively cheap to manufacture.

Accordingly, the invention comprises a cash register or similar accounting machine adapted to handle multiple item transactions, including a plurality of bank-s of amount keys, a setting member for each bank of amount keys differentially rotatable about a common shaft in dependence upon the value of the amount key depressed, an item totalizer including a series of wheels, each wheel being rotatably mounted on the common shaft adjacent its corresponding setting member, and a coupling mechanism adapted to couple the wheels of the item totalizer to the setting members for imparting the setting movement of the latter to the related wheels of the item totalizer so that during the successive entries of a multiple item transaction the total amount is accumulated in the item totalizer.

The above, and other subsidiary features of the present invention as applied, by way of example only, to one manner of carrying it into effect, will now be described, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a right side View of an amount keybank and part of the mechanism for controlling the zero stons.

FIG. 2 is a right side view of one of the differentially settable members, its associated item totalizer wheel, and the coupling and tens transfe mechanisms related thereto.

FIG. 3 is a right side View of the control keybank of the machine, and the mechanism for controlling the coupling of the item totalizer with the differentially settable members.

FIG. 4 is a left side view showing the mechanism for controlling the differential members during item totaltaking operations in normal position.

FIG. 5 is a left side view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 4 in the position assumed consequent upon depression of a total-taking control key.

FIG. 6 is a left side view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 4 in the position assumed when the differential member has been positioned in accordance with the amount standing on the related item totalizer wheel.

FIG. 7 is a right side View of mechanism for rendering the zero stops ineffective during total-taking operations.

FIG. 8 is a right side view of the tens transfer operating mechanism.

:FIG. 9 is a right side view of the tens transfer mechanism in tripped position.

FIG. 10 is a right side view of the tens transfer mechanism with the tens transfer pawl engaged with an item totalizer wheel prior to effecting a transfer.

FIG. 11 is a right side view showing the amount key release means and the total key latch means.

General Description The invention is embodied in a machine of the type shown and described in US. Patent No. 2,666,573, issued to Tenoort on January 19, 1954.

The machine chosen to illustrate the present invention includes a plurality of banks of amount keys, each keybank controlling the differential positioning of a differentially settable arm mounted for rotation about a common shaft and having a first toothed segmental portion ar-' ranged correspondingly to set printing mechanism, and a second toothed segmental portion which, through a wide coupling pinion, is normally coupled to an item totalizer wheel mounted adjacent each differentially settable arm for rotation about said common shaft.

Depression of one of the keys of an amount keybank causes a stud carried by its stem to be placed in the path of the differential arm associated therewith so that, upon operation of the machine, the arm will be rotated until a known type of latch mechanism mounted thereon contacts the stud to cause the arm to be disengaged from its driving member. This movement of the differential arm is communicated to the adjacent item totalizer wheel through the coupling pinion, disengagement of the latter later in the machine operation automatically causing a combined aligner and tens transfer pawl to engage the item totalizer wheel so as to retain it in adjusted position while the differential arm is restored to its normal position. However, if the item totalizer wheel of the immediately lower order has caused the tens transfer mechanism of the order being described to be tripped, the aligner and tens transfer pawl is permitted to step the related item totalizer wheel by one tooth space to enter therein one digit.

A control row of keys is provided with three motorized keys adapted, respectively, to control the entry of single items, item entering operations, and item total-taking operations.

The Single Item control key is adapted to control the wide coupling pinion of each amount keybank so that the pinion remains in coupling engagement throughout the Whole of the machine cycle so that, although the amount set up on the keyboard is entered into the item totalizer during setting movement of the differential arm, it will be cleared therefrom upon the restoration of the differential arm.

The ftemizer control key is adapted to control the wide coupling pinion of each amount keybank so that the pinion remains in coupling engagement during the setting movement of the differential arm, and is moved to uncoupling position during restoration of the said arm, thereby to enter the set up amount into the item. totalizer.

The Total control key is adapted to control the wide coupling pinion of each amount keyban'k so that the pinion is disengaged from the differential arm and the item totalizer at the commencement of a machine operation to permit differential positioning of the former to aosaeso an extent controlled by the latter, and is re-engaged therewith prior to restoration of said arm to restore the item totalizer to its Zero condition. Mechanism, rendered operative upon depression of the Total key, is provided to disable the zero stops and to render effective mechanism whereby the latches on the differential arms will be disabled during the machine operation upon the differential arms assuming a position representative of the amount contained in the item totalizer.

The various mechanisms of the machine, pertinent to the present invention, will now be described in detail.

The machine illustrated herein includes a plurality of banks of amount entering keys (not shown) of any known suitable kind, and a row of control keys, depression of any one of the latter keys initiating a cycle of machine operation in a manner known per se.

The row of control keys comprises a Single Item key 549 (FIG. 3) for controlling the entry of single items into a totalizer which is not shown but is of known kind including a plurality of denominational wheels, an

'ltemizer key 51 for controlling the entry of the various items comprised in a multiple item transaction into both the usual totalizer and into an item totalizeras will be described later, and a Total key 52 for controlling the taking of totals of amounts entered into the item totalizer under control of the Itemizer key 51 at the conclusion of a multiple item transaction, as will be explained later.

Each amount keybank is of known construction and includes nine amount keys resiliently mounted in a keyframe, generally indicated at 53 (FIG. 1), the stem of each amount key having a stud 54 projecting laterally therefrom into a related slot 55 in a fixed member 56 of the keyframe 53. As all the keyframes 53 of each amount keybank are identical only one thereof is described hereinafter.

Each stud 54 also projects through an aperture in a key locking slide 57, slidably mounted upon two studs 58 secured in the keyframe, and is adapted to cooperate with a related cam surface $9 during depression of an amonut key to cam the slide upwardly. When the key is fully depressed, the stud 54- overrides the cam surface 59 and a spring (not shown) urges the slide 57 down wardly to engage a surface 60 over the stud 54 to latch the latter and, therefore, the key in depressed position. Secured in the lower end of the slide 57 is a projecting stud 61 having a flat surface which is normally out of cooperative relation with a hooked arm 62 secured to a release shaft 63 which is caused to execute a clockwise 'movement upon the initiation of a machine cycle, and is restored beyond its normal position, and then back to normal position, at the close of a machine cycle in known manner. Thus, when the slide 57 is cammed upwardly, the stud 61 moves into blocking relation with the hooked arm 62 at an intermediate position of the key depression to block movement of the arm and the operation of the machine. However, after the full depression of a key and during the machine cycle, the hooked arm 62 engages over the stud 61 to prevent movement of the slide 57 and thus the depression of any amount keys. Restoration of the release shaft 63 counter-clockwise beyond its normal position at the close of a machine cycle causes a cam surface of the hooked member 62 to move the slide 57 upwardly, against its spring tension, thereby removing the surface 687 from the stud 54 of any depressed key, which latter restores upwardly in well known manner.

A zero stop control slide 64 is also provided in each keyframe 53 and has a cam surface 65 in the path of movement of each stud 54, the slide 64 also being slidably mounted on the studs 58. Projecting laterally from the lower end of the slide or detent 64 is a stud 66 which lies in the path of counter-clockwise rocking movement of an associated zero stop pawl 67 pivotally mounted on a stud 68 secured in the keyframe 53. The Zero stop a pawl 67 is normally held in the position shown in FIG. 1

by a stud 69 therein engaging the extremity of an arm 70 connected by a bush to the hooked arm 62. A torsion spring 71 constantly urges the zero stop pawl 67 counterclockwise and, when the machine release shaft 63 is rocked clockwise, as mentioned above, the arm 7t? also rocks clockwise permitting the spring 71 to rotate the pawl 67 counter-clockwise into engagement with the stud 66. This movement is insufficient to move the nose of the zero stop pawl 67 from the path of a latch of the differential mechanism. However, upon depression of any one of the amount keys in the keybank, its stud 54 earns the slide 64- upwardly, raising the stud 66 out of the path of counter-clockwise movement of the zero stop pawl 67 to permit the latter to rock counter-clockwise to the full extent permitted by clockwise rocking of the arm 79, which movement is sufficient to move the Zero stop pawl 67 from the path of the latch of the differential mechanism. Upon restoration of the machine release shaft 63 to normal position the arm 7%, through engage ment with the stud 69, restores the Zero stop pawl 67 to the position shown.

Difierential Mechanism The major part of the differential mechanisms of the machine, one for each amount keybank, are basically of known kind and, therefore, only a brief description of the general construction of one of said mechanisms is given hereinafter.

A differential arm 72 (FIG. 2) is freely mounted on a machine main shaft 73 and has a latch 74 pivotally mounted at 75 on the rear side thereof as seen in this figure, and which is adapted to cooperate with a depressed stud 54 (FIG. 1) of the amount keys. The latch 74 (FIG. 2) is urged in a clockwise direction by a spring 76 secured between a stud 77 on the latch 74 and a stud on a locking plate 78, to be described later. The latch 74 is normally held in the position shown by a stud 79 therein being contacted by a nose 3ft of the zero stop pawl 67, in which position a stud 81, also secured in the latch 74, engages in the lowermost of a plurality of locking notches 82 (FIG. 1) formed in the member 56. As the Zero stop pawl 67 (FIG. 2) is rocked fully counter-clockwise, removing the nose Sit from the stud 75 the spring 76 exerts its force to rotate the latch 7 clockwise to move the stud 81 out of the lowermost notch 82, until the stud 77 contacts a surface of the differential arm 72 in which position a surface 83 of the latch 74 underlies a nose 84 of the locking plate 78, as can be seen in FIG. 5.

The locking plate 78 is pivotally mounted on a stud 85 on the same side of the differential arm 72 as is the latch 74, and has a slot 86 within which is normally engaged a universal rod 87 common to and engaging all of the locking plates and which is reciprocated about an arc concentric to the mainshaft 73 during each machine operation, in known manner. During each machine operation the universal rod 87 remains stationary during the first 20 of rotation of the mainshaft 73, is moved clockwise during approximately the next 90 of rotation to effect its operating stroke, dwells in fully operated position for 75, and is then returned to normal position during the next 90, so that normal position is reached at 275 of rotation of the mainshaft 73. The slot 86 is normally so positioned that it is concentric to and partially encompasses the universal rod 87, and the lower bounding wall 88 of theslot is curved to provide a camming surface, as will be described.

During additive entries, after the latch 74 has rotated clockwise to position its surface 83 beneath the nose 84 of the locking plate 78, the universal rod 87 commences its clockwise movement about the mainshaft 73'to drive the differential arm 72 through its eccentric engagement within the slot 86, the nose 84 of the locking plate 78 binding upon the surface 83 of the latch 74. This movement continues until such time as a nose 89 on the latch 74 engages a stud 54 (F116. 1) of a depressed amount key. When the latter occurs, through the continued motion of the differential arm 72 (FIG. 2), the latch 74 is rocked counter-clockwise, removing the surface 33 from beneath the nose '84 of the locking plate 78, and presenting a rectangular depression 90 thereto, and further engages the stud 81 in an appropriate one of the locking notches 32 (FIG. 1). Immediately the depression 90 (FIG. 2) is presented to the nose 84, under the combined urgency of the universal rod 87 and the spring 76 the locking plate 78 is rotated counter-clockwise, the said nose enters the depression to lock the latch 74 in its clockwise position as seen in FIG. 6 and counter-clockwise position as seen in FIG. 2. Also, on the rotation of the locking plate 78, the slot 36 moves substantially into concentricity with the arc of movement of the universal rod 87, so that the latter moves out of engagement to complete its operating stroke.

During return movement of the universal rod 87, it

encounters the lower wall 88 of the slot $6 in the locking plate 78 and rocks the latter clockwise, there-by removing the nose 84 from the depression 95 to permit the latch 74 to rotate clockwise under the urge of the spring 76 as soon as the differential arm '72 has been restored sufficiently counter-clockwise to disengage the stud 81 from its locking notch 82 (FIG. 1). The universal rod 87 (FIG. 2) then completes its return movement to normal position, carrying with it the differential arm 72. When the machine release shaft 63 rocks counter-clockwise to beyond its normal position, the slide 57 is cammed upwardly by the hooked member 62 to allow restoration of the depressed amount key, thereby removing the stud 54 from the path of the slide 64 which restores downwardly to its normal position under the urgency of its spring. At the same time the arm 71) on the machine release shaft 63 contacts the stud 69 and restores the zero stop pawl 67 clockwise to its normal position. Clockwise restoration of the Zero stop pawl causes its nose 80 to contact the stud 79 to rotate the latch 74 counter-clockwise to its normal position as shown in FIG. 2.

The differential arm 72 is provided with a toothed segment 91 which meshes in known manner, and, therefore, not shown, with a train of gears which set type wheels to print data on the usual issuing ticket and on the usual detail strip. Pivoted at 92 to the rearward end of each differential arm 72 are a pair of links 93, 94, shown in chain lines, which are coupled to a rearwardly extending arm 95 connected to a totalizer actuator segment, the links 93, 94 being so arranged as to impart movement to the actuator segment about its axis in known manner. The actuator segment is engaged with the usual totalizer, in adding operations, during the return stroke of the universal rod 87.

The usual front and rear indicator drums (not shown) are set by each differential arm 72 through a link 96, shown in chain lines, pivotally connected by a stud 97 to a lever 98 pivoted at 99 to each differential arm 72. The indicator setting and restoring mechanisms are well known and, therefore, are not described herein.

A further toothed segment 1% is provided on the differential arm 72, which segment is adapted selectively to be coupled to an item totalizer wheel 1111 freely mounted on the mainshaft 73. The mechanism for controlling the coupling of the differential arms to the item totalizer wheels will now be described.

Control of Coupling of the Difierential Mechanism to the Item T otalizer An item totalizer wheel 101 is associated with each differential arm 72 and is freely mounted on the mainshaft 73. The item totalizer wheels 191 are normally coupled to the toothed segments 109 on the differential arms 72, and are selectively decoupled therefrom, under control of the Itemizer key 51 FIG. 3) during the entry of the individual items comprising a multiple item transaction, and during the taking of a total from the item totalizer under control of the Total key 52.

Freely mounted on a rod 1112 (FIG. 2) extending between the machine side frames is a plurality of rockable plates 103, one associated with each amount differential mechanism, each supporting a wide coupling pinion m4 freely rotatable about a stud 1% and which is normally engaged with the toothed segment 1% and the teeth of the item totalizer wheel 1611 to couple the latter to the differential arm '72. Rotatably mounted on the lower end of the plate 1% is an aligning pawl 11% urged by a torsion spring 1417 into engagement with the coupling pinion 1114 so as to maintain the latter in correct alignment whilst disengaged from the item totalizer whee-l 101 and the differential arm 72. Secured in the upper end of each plate 1% is a stud 16S engaged Within an arcuate slot 1&9 of a combined aligning and tens transfer pawl 116 lying in the'same plane as the item totalizer wheel 101 and having a tooth 111 normally disengaged from the teeth of the wheel. The pawl 11% is provided with a further arcuatc slot 112" having a rod 113 running therethrough to provide a pivot point, and to permit movement of the pawl for effecting tens transfers in the item wheels, as will be explained later. A spring 114, secured between a stud 115 in the pawl and a stud 116 in the plate 1%, urges the latter counter-clockwise so as to tend to engage the tooth 111 with the wheel 101 and to hold the coupling pinion 164 in uncoupling position when this is permitted.

The plate 1&3 is normally held with the coupling pinion 104 in engaged position, as shown in FIG. 2, by a cam 117 pinned to a shaft 118 and normally engaging a roller 119 on the plate 103. The shaft is reciprocated first clockwise and then counter-clockwise, during machine operations initiated under control of the Itemizer key 51 and the Total key 52, which clockwise movement causes the high surface of the cam 117 to be disengaged from the roller 119, the plate 103 to rock counter-clockwise, and the high surface of the cam 117 to engage beneath a further roller 126) on the plate 1413. Counterclockwise movement of the plate 103 disengages the pinion 104 from the teeth of the toothed segment 1&0 and of the item totalizer wheel 1111, and engages the tooth 111 of the pawl 110 with the teeth of the latter. Counter-clockwise return movement of the shaft 118 restores the parts to their normal positions.

The mechanism for reciprocating the shaft 118, under control of the keys 51 and 52 (FIG. 3) will now be described.

Each control key 59, 51, 52, is slidably mounted on a right side frame of the machine by means of elongated slots 121 in their stems being engaged by studs 122 secured in the side frame. Each control key is resiliently urged upwardly by springs, not shown, to a normal upward position as determined by the boundaries of the lower ends of the slots 121 engaging the studs 122. The keys 5%), 51, 52, are provided, respectively with studs 123, 124, 125, which, when the keys are depressed cooperate with a three position control plate 126 pivoted on a stud 127 in the right side frame. The plate 126 is shown in the position occupied for effecting single item entries, that is, in the position to which it is always set on the depression'of the Single Item key Si} by the cooperation of the stud 123 with either a cam surface 123 or a cam surface 129 according to which of its other two positions it was last set. If, during an immediately prior machine operation, the Single Item key 51 was depressed, then the stud 123 rides idly into a notch i131 in the plate 126 without imparting movement thereto. The stud 124 of the Itemizer key 51 has a single cam surface 131 associated therewith, and, upon depression of the key 51 the plate 126, if not already in itemizing position, is cammed clockwise until the stud 124 enters a notch 132. The

aoasnro stud 125 of the Total key 52 also has a single cam surface 133 associated therewith and, upon depression of the key the plate 126, if not already in total-taking position, is cammed counter-clockwise until the stud 125 enters a notch 1134.

Pivoted on a stud 135 in the plate 126 is a link 136 having in its lower end a stud 137 which stud passes successively through an elongated slot 13% in an operating lever 139, a control opening Mill in a total-taking lever 141, and a control opening 142 in an itemizing lever 143. The levers 135 141 and 143 are rotatably mounted on a stud 144 mounted in the right side frame, and the levers 141 and 143 are each provided with a roller stud 145 (only the stud in the lever 143 being shown) cooperating, respectively, with cam grooves 1 15, 147 in the sides of a disc 148 secured on the mainshaft 73. The operating lever 139 is also provided with a notch 1 19 embracing a stud i151) in an arm 151 secured to the shaft 118, to which shaft the control cam 117 (see also FIG. 2) is also secured.

. In a single-item entering operation, the mechanism described functions as follows. Depression of the Single Item key 51) causes the plate 126 to be positioned as shown in FIGURE 3, in which position the stud 137 in the link 136 is centrally disposed in the slot 138 of the operating lever 139. Clockwise rotation of the shaft 73 and the disc 14% causes the total-taking lever 141 to rock counter-clockwise and back to normal position, followed by counter-clcokwise and back movement of the itemizing lever 14-3. The rightward movement thereby imparted in turn to the lower ends of the levers 141, 143 is ineffective to move the stud 137 and the operating lever 139 to the right as, when the stud 137 is centrally disposed in the slot 138, an opening in each of the levers 14-1, 143 is opposite the left-hand side of thestud 137. Thus, no movement is imparted to the shaft 118 and, in consequence, the coupling pinion 19 1 (FIG. 2) remains in engagement with the differential arm 72 and the item totalizer wheel lllll throughout the machine operation so that any amount entered into the latter during the operating stroke of the universal rod 87 is automatically cleared therefrom during its return stroke.

In order to enter the individual amounts of a multiple item transaction, the Itemizer" key 51 (FIG. 3) is depressed, shifting the plate 126 clockwise from the position shown and causing the stud 137 to be lowered in the slot 138 to a position in which it lies to the right of an operating surface 152 of the control opening M2 in the itemizing lever 14-3. In this position, when the lever 143 is rocked counter-clockwise by the cam groove 147 the stud 137 will be moved to the right, carrying with it the operating lever 139. The prior movement of the total-taking lever 141 in ineffective to shift the stud 137 to the right as the control opening 140 therein has no operating surface opposite the stud 137 Whilst the latter is in its lower position. Thus, the operating plate 139 rocks the arm 151 and the shaft 118 clockwise and counter-clockwise at the appropriate timing to disengage the coupling pinion 104 (FIG. 2) after the operating stroke of the universal rod 87 and to re-engage it after the universal rod 87 has completed its return stroke. Consequently, the coupling pinion 104 is disengaged during the return stroke of the universal rod 87 so that amounts entered into the item totalizer wheel 101 during clockwise movement of the differential arm 72 remain set in the Wheel 1611 during counter-clockwise return movement of the differential arm.

The Total key 52 (FIG. 3) is provided in order to control the taking of the total of the amount standing on the item totalizer wheels after the entry of a series of individual entries have been made thereinto under control of the Itemizer key 51. Depression of the Total key 52 causes its stud 125 to engage the cam surface 133 and to rock the plate 126 counter-clockwise, thereby raising the link 1136 and positioning the stud 137 in the upper which point there is a drop in the periphery of the cam portion of the slot 138. In this position an operating surface 153 on the total-taking lever 141 is in cooperation with the stud 137. Upon counter-clockwise rocking of the lever 14-1 the stud 137 is carried to the right, together.

with the operating lever 139, at the commencement of a machine operation, thereby rocking the shaft 118 clock- Wise to disengage the coupling pinion 104 (FIG. 2) which is reengaged prior to return movement of the universal rod 87. Thus, during the operating stroke of the universal rod 87, the item totalizer wheel 1111 is uncoupled from the differential arm 72, but is recoupled thereto during its return movement.

Mechanism, known per se, is provided to prevent engagement of the usual totalizer with its actuator segments during the taking of a total from the item totalizer.

Tens Transfer Mechanism intermediate the 9 and O teeth of each of five groups of ten teeth of each item totalizer wheel 101 (P16. 2) is a transfer stud 154. Cooperating with the studs 154 is a trip pawl 155 for each denominational order of the item totalizer wheels 11b1, all of the trip pawls 155 being pivoted on the rod 113. Each trip pawl 155 has secured thereto, through the medium of a bush 156, a trip plate 157 having a nose 158. Each trip pawl 155 controls the operation of the tooth 111 on the pawl 11%) associated with the next higher denominational order wheel 1131 of the item totalizer.

On a shaft 159 is freely mounted a number of latch plates 160, one associated with each trip plate 157, each latch plate having a shoulder 161 which is normally engaged by the nose 158 of the trip plate 157, this engagement being maintained by a spring 162 stressed between the plates. The latch plates list} also each have an upwardly projecting nose 163.

Each latch plate 160 has secured thereto, through the medium of a bush, a restoring plate 164 having a forwardly projecting lever arm 1&5 which is located beneath and cooperates with the stud in its associated pawl and a dependant arm 16d. Adjacent each restoring plate 164 and freely mounted on the shaft 159, is a release plate 167 having a dependant arm 168 and an upwardly proiecting finger 169. The rear faces of the fingers 169 of the several transfer mechanisms are progressively angularly displaced, as generally indicated by broken lines at 1719, so that, during transfer operations, transfers will be effected seriatim from the lowest to the highest denominational order. The fingers 169 normally lie beneath studs 171 in the upper ends of their respective pawls 11% so as normally to form stops in the paths of the downward movement of the latter. Secured to the shaft 159, one associated with each transfer mechanism, is an operating plate 172 having therein a limiting and operating stud 173 against which normally the dependant arm 168 of the release plate 167 abuts under the urgency of a spring 1'74 anchored between studs in the plate 157 and 172.

Secured to the shaft 159 (FIG. 8), approximately midway therealong, is a dependant arm 175 to which is pivotally secured one end of a pitman 176, the other end of which has a slot 1'77 embracing a collar on the mainshaft 73 of the machine, and has two spaced-apart rollers 1725 and 179 cooperating, respectively, with companion cams 18th and 131 secured to the mainshaft 73. The timing of operation of the pitman 176 is such that, On the initiation of a machine operation during which the mainshaft 73 is rotated through 360, the pitman will dwell in the position shown until approximately to when the high surface of the cam 18%), and the corresponding depression in the cam 1251, will cause the pitman 176 to commence to move to the right. During approximately the next 115, that is, up to 240, the pitman 176 continues to move toward the right, and remains in its extreme rightward position until approximately 270", at

186 and a corresponding high surface on cam 181, whereby the pitman 176 commences to return to the left and rotate clockwise the arm along with its carrying shaft 159. The roller 179 now encounters a leading edge of the cam 181 which, with the presentation of a corresponding depression in the cam 13%) to the roller 178, moves the pitman 176 through its normal position to an extreme leftward position which is reached at approximately 325 of rotation of the mainshaft 73. From approximately 325 to 355, the pitman 176 is restored from its extreme leftward position to its normal position, in which it remains until the next machine operation. Thus, the pitman 176, during each machine operation, through the arm 175, causes the shaft 159 to rock first counter-clockwise, then clockwise to beyond its initial position, and then counter-clockwise back to its initial position.

The mechanism will now be described in connection with a machine operation in which a transfer is effected.

At the commencement of an item-entering operation, the plates 1113 and the studs 1% occupy the position shown in FIG. 2, that is, with the coupling pinions 1M- engaging the toothed segments 1% of the differential arms 72 and the item totalizer wheels 101, the teeth 111 of the pawls 1119 being maintained out of engagement with the latter.

When a stud 154 contacts and rocks the trip pawl 155 counter-clockwise during the entry of an amount into the item totalizer wheel 161, or during a transfer operation from a lower denominational order, the trip plate 157, moving in unison with the trip pawl 155, disengages its nose 155 from the shoulder 161 and the latch plate 169 moves counter-clockwise under the urgency of the spring 162 to position its nose 163 beneath the trip plate 157 as seen in FIGS. 9 and 10. The counter-clockwise movement of the latch plate 169 is communicated to the restoring plate 164 and the latter rocks to lower its arm 165 from beneath the stud 115 and to cause its arm 166 to engage the stud 173 in the operating plate 172 as seen in FIG. 9. The pawl 110 is now freed to make a slight movement downwardly from the position shown in FIG. 9 to that shown in FIG. wherein the cut-away stud 171 rests on the stop surface of the finger 169 of the release plate 167. The plate 103 is now rocked counterclockwise, as previously explained, to engage the tooth 111 with the teeth of the item totalizer wheel 1111. Upon initial movement counter-clockwise of the arm 175 (FIG. 8) and the operating plates 172, the latter operate on the release plates 167 to cause the latter to move their stop fingers 169 seriatim from beneath the cut-away studs 171. Upon a transfer operation having been initiated by the tripping of a transfer pawl 155, resulting in the freeing of the pawls 11%), when the finger 169 is removed from beneath the stud 171, the spring 114 pulls the pawl 111i downwardly which, in turn, enters one unit into the next higher denominational order wheel 1111, the operated release plates 167 being held against clockwise restoring movement at this time by the flats of the studs 171 engaging their rear surfaces.

The plates 1193 are now rocked clockwise, as above described, to disengage the teeth 111 of the pawls 111? from the item totalizer wheels 101. After the teeth 111 have been disengaged, the pitman 176 (FIG. 8) rocks the arm 175 (R168. 2 and 8), the shaft 159, and the operating plates 172 secured thereon clockwise past normal position. During clockwise movement of the operating plates 172, the studs 173 thereon rock the restoring plates 164 clockwise, the arms 165 thereof contacting the studs 115 in the operated pawls 11a and raising them beyond their normal position so as to cause the studs 171 to free the release plates 167 to the action of the springs 174, the plates 167 rocking clockwise under the urgency of the springs 174 until they again contact the studs 173. During clockwise movement of the restoring plates 164, the latch plates 160 are similarly restored, which restoring movement disengages their noses 163 from the trip plates 157, which former move slightly beyond the position in which they re-engage their shoulders 161 with the noses 158 of the trip plates 157.

Finally, the pitman 176 (FIG. 8) moves the operating plates 1'72 counter-clockwise back to normal position, thereby permitting the arms to return slightly counterclockwise until the shoulders 161 re-engage noses 158 of the trip plates 157 to retain the pawls 110 in their normal positions and rotating the release member 167 so as to reposition their upwardly extending fingers 169 beneath the studs 171.

Mechanism for Disabling the Zero Stop Pawls During the Taking of a Total From the Item T otalizer The mechanism for disabling the zero stop pawl of each amount keybank, upon the initiation of an item total-taking operation, will now be described.

The Total key 52 (FIG. 7) is provided with a downward extension 182 which is contacted by a roller 15.? mounted on an arm 184 secured to a shaft 185 extending between the machine side frames. A further arm 156 secured to the shaft 185 is pivotally connected to a link 137 slidably supported at its right hand end by a cross rod 188 and urged towards the left by a strong spring 159. The extension 182., in blocking the roller 183, normally prevents clockwise rotation of the shaft 185 under the urgency of the spring 189 and thereby maintains a roller 1% mounted on the link 187 out of cooperation with a cam 191 secured to the main shaft 73 of the machine.

Also secured to the shaft 185, one for each amount bank, are a plurality of levers 192, a forward extension on each thereof underlying a stud 193 (FIG. 1) secured in the lower end of each Zero stop control slide 64.

Upon depression of the total key 52, the shoulder 1552 moves away from the roller 183, releasing the abovementioned linkage to the action of the spring 189 whereby the link 187 moves to the left until the roller 1% enters into contact with the cam 191, the shaft 185, the arm 184, and the levers 192 rotating clockwise. The roller 183 moves up in front of the extension 132 to lock down the Total key 52. The forward extensions of the levers 192 (FIG. 1) engage and raise the studs 153 in, and, therefore, the slides 64, thereby moving the studs 66 out of the path of counter-clockwise movement of the zero stop pawls 67. Depression of the Total key 52 causes a machine cycle to be initiated, in known manner, and causes the machine release shaft 63 to rock clockwise to release the zero stop pawls 67 in the manner described hereinbefore. The cam 191, as the mainshaft 73 rotates clockwise, acts on the roller to restore the link 157 to the right, thereby restoring the shaft 185, the arm 134, and the levers 192 counterclockwise until the roller 183 releases the key 52, which returns to normal position under the pressure of a spring (not shown) where its extension 182 again comes in front of the roller 183.

Mechanism for Disabling the Difierenlial Latch During Item Total-Taking from its normal to its fully operated position, in accordance with the amount standing on the item totalizer wheel 101.

When a total-taking operation commences, due to the aesaoso counter-clockwise rocking of the zero stop pawls 67, each latch 74 positions its surface 83 beneath the nose $4. As has been previously described, the coupling pinion 1114 is disengaged at the commencement of a total-taking operation so that the differential arm 72 is free to move clockwise as seen in FIG. 2, whereas the item totalizer wheel 191 is held by the aligning and tens transfer tooth 111.

Pivoted on a stud 194 at the front (as seen in FIG. 2) of each differential arm 72 is a substantially Y-shaped detentlever 195 to which a clockwise tension is applied by a spring 1% anchored between the lever and the differential arm. A roller stud 197 in the lever 195 lies above a cam 1% (FIG. 1) connected by a bush to the lever 192. Secured in the upper arm of the lever 195 is a shouldered stud 199 normally engaging within the upper of two notches 2th), 2&1 (FIG. 4) formed in a latch control lever 2112 pivoted on a stud 2% in the difierential arm 72. The lever 202 is urged clockwise by a spring 204 secured between the former and the differential arm, and is held in the position shown in FIG. 4 by a roller 205 engaging a cam surface 2% (MG. 1) of the lever 192.

Pivoted on a through stud 207 in the latch control lever 202, one on each side of the latter, are a latch disabling arm 2% and a by-pass pawl 209 which is urged counterclockwise by a spring 211) anchored between the pawl M9 and a stud 211 in the lever 2112 so as normally to maintain the pawl in contact with the stud 211. The disabling arm 2% normally rests on a collar 212 on the stud 2 .13, in which position its right-hand end lies just beneath a stud 213 in the latch 74- when the latter has been rocked to its counter-clockwise position upon release of the zero stop pawl 67 as described hereinbefore, and a cam surface 214 on its left-hand end is normally out of the path of rotation of the tens transfer studs 1154.

Upon depression of the Total key 52 (FIGS. 3 and 7), the clockwise movement imparted to the shaft 185 causes the cam 198 to position a low surface beneath the roller 1197, thereby removing the block against the clockwise movement of the lever 195 (FIG. 2) under the influence of the spring 196. At the same time the lever 192 cams the roller 2115 to the right as seen in FIG. 1 to the left as seen in FIG. 4, rocking the latch control lever 202 counter-clockwise as seen in the latter figure, whereby its notch 2% moves upwardly and away from, and its notch 201 moves into the path of and is engaged by the stud 199 as shown in FIG. 5, thereby positively to retain the lever 202 in its counter-clockwise position during approximately the first 110 of rotation of the mainshaft 73 (-FIG. 7), after which the gradual restoration of the lever 2.02 is permitted by the movement of the link 187 to the right causing the restoration of the shaft 185 to its normal position. Counter-clockwise rotation of the lever 202 (FIG. 4) moves the left-hand end of the arm 208 to the position shown in FIG. 5, wherein the nose of the by-pass pawl 2119 and the cam surface 214 are both moved into the arc of the transfer studs 154 on the item totalizer wheel 1111.

As will be appreciated, a stud 154 will be located in a position representing zero, or an amount, depending on the setting of the item totalizer wheel 161.

In the assumption that an amount stands on the item totalizer wheel 101 then, when the differential arm 72 moves counter-clockwise the by-pass pawl 209 first bypasses the stud 154 and then the cam surface 2114 encounters the stud whereby the arm 208 is moved counterclockwise. Upon this counterclockwise movement of the arm 208, its right-hand end, in cooperation with the stud 213, trips the latch 74 clockwise to the position shown in FIG. 6, thereby permitting the locking plate 78 to release itself from the universal rod 87 which proceeds to complete its operative stroke. Clockwise disengaging movement of the locking plate 78 causes a surface 215 (FIG. 2) thereof to contact the stud 199 and rock it and wheels as hereinbefore described.

the lever 195 to the position shown in FIG. 6 where it disengages from the notch 2111 in the lever 202whereby the latter is freed subsequently to rock clockwise when a the lever 15 2 on the shaft 185 is restored. Theerfore,

at this time, the differential arm is set to the amount con tained in the item totalizer wheel.

During the dwell prior to return movement of the 7 If no amount is registered on the item totalizer wheel ltlfl, a stud 15d will be standing in a position representing Zero opposite the cam surface 214 of the disabling arm 2% with the differential arm 72 at normal as indicated in FIG. 4. Thus, when the lever 202 is rotated counter-clockwise by the lever 19-2 through roller stud 2&5, the cam surface 214- of the arm 2% will be forced against the stud 15 i and the by-pass pawl 2119 will move above the stud so that, in effect, the stud becomes trapped and movement of the differential arm 72 is thus prevented. The cam surface 214 will ride along the stud 1.54 to cause the disabling arm 2% to rotate counterclockwise to trip the latch '74 as before described.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is obvious that structural changes may be embodied without departing from the spirit of the invention, and we therefore desire not to be limited to that precise form beyond the limitations which may be imposed by the following claims.

What we claim is:

1. A cash register or similar accounting machine adapted to handle item transactions, including a plurality of banks of amount keys; a plurality of control keys; a setting member for each bank of amount keys differentially rotatable about a comon shaft and responsive to the value of an amount key depressed; an item totalizer' including a series of wheels, each wheel being rotatably mounted on the common shaft adjacent its corresponding setting member; a coupling mechanism adapted to couple the wheels of said item totalizer to the axially aligned setting members for imparting the movement of the setting members to the related wheels of the item totalizer; and a control mechanism for the coupling mechanism so controlled during a machine operation by the control key depressed, that the coupling mechanism is effective during the setting movement of the setting members and ineffective during the restoring movement thereof, ineffective during the setting movement of the setting members and effective during the restoring movement thereof or effective during both the setting and restoring movements of the setting members.

2. A cash register or similar accounting machine adapted to handle multiple-item transactions, including a plurality of banks of amount keys; a plurality of control keys; a setting member for each bank of amount keys differentially rotatable about a common shaft in dependance upon the value of the amount key depressed; an item totalizer including a series of Wheels, each wheel being rotatably mounted on the common shaft adjacent its corresponding setting member; a coupling mechanism adapted to couple the wheels of the item totalizer to the setting members for imparting the movement of the setting members to the related wheels of the item totalizer, comprising a coupling pinion, a rockable plate supporting the coupling pinion, rollers on the rockable plate adapted to cooperate with a rockable cam, a driving mechanism for the rockable cam, and a timing mechanism adapted to actuate the driving mechanism; an aligning mechanism adapted to engage and latch the wheels of the item totalizer against rotation, being so interconnected with said coupling mechanism that when one of one said interconnected mechanisms is effective the other of said mechanisms is automatically rendered ineffective; and a control mechanism for the coupling mechanism so controlled by the control keys during a machine operation that the coupling mechanism is effective during the setting movement of the setting members and ineffective during the restoring. movement thereof, is ineffective during the setting movement of the setting members and effective during the restoring movement thereof, or remains effective during both setting and restoring movements of the setting members; said timing mechanism being controlled by the control mechanism and comprising a drum can provided with a pair of cam grooves, a pair of control levers each cooperating with a related one of the cam grooves so that, upon rotation of the drum cam, during each machine operation, a rocking movement is imparted to each control lever, control surfaces on each control lever, and a coupling pin on the control mechanism common to the control levers and the driving mechanism; movement of the control mechanism to either one of two of its three positions of adjustment selecting a related control lever so that, upon rocking movement of the selected control lever, its control surface will cause the driving mechanism to be actuated in a timing appropriate to the machine operation performed.

3. A cash register or similar accounting machine adapted to handle multiple-item transactions, including a plurality of banks of amount keys; a plurality of control keys including a total-taking key; a setting member for each bank of amount keys difierentially rotatable about a common shaft in dependance upon the value of the amount key depressed; an item totalizer including a series of wheels, each wheel being rotatably mounted on the common shaft adjacent its corresponding setting member; a coupling mechanism adapted to couple the wheels of the item totalizer to the setting members for imparting the movement of the setting members to the related wheels of the item totalizer; a control mechanism for the coupling mechanism so controlled by the control keys during a machine operation that the coupling mechanism is effective during the setting movement of the setting members and ineffective during the restoring movement thereof, is ineffective during the setting movement of the setting members and effective during the restoring movement thereof, or remains effective during both setting and restoring movements thereof; an aligning mechanism for the item totalizer so interconnected with the coupling mechanism that when the coupling mechanism is effective the aligning mechanism is automatically rendered ineffective, whereas, when the coupling mechanism is ineffective, the aligning mechanism is automatically rendered effective to latch the wheels of the item totalizer against rotation; a reciprocable driving member for the setting members; latches adapted to latch the setting members to the driving member; tens transfer studs on the wheels of the item totalizer; and individual disabling mechanisms for the latches mounted on the setting members and positionable into the plane of the tens transfer studs upon depression of the said total-taking control key; the arrangement being such that during a machine operation initiated under control of said key, the setting members are driven in setting movement with the coupling mechanism ineffective and the wheels of the item totalizer latched against rotation, and the disabling mechanisms are brought into cooperation with the latched tens transfer studs and are actuated to cause the latches to be disabled and the setting members set in accordance with the setting of the wheels of the item totalizer, whereupon return movement of the driving member restores the setting members which, through the now effective coupling mechanism, cause the wheels of the item totalizer to be restored to zero condition.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,119,841 Breitling June 7, 1938 2,645,421 Luhn July 14, 1953 2,970,755 Gang Feb. 7, 1961

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